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Topic Review (Newest First)

01-10-2014 02:20 PM

MrsFergione

Our 8 month old is fine out of the kennel at night but I don't think it's fair to have one out but the puppy in kennel so they stay in.

01-10-2014 11:51 AM

Blanketback

I'll never be taking my crate down, since both dogs here love sleeping in it so much. DH will have to get used to having a kitchen dwarfed by the 48" vari kennel. Lol.

01-10-2014 11:46 AM

dOg

My 7 year old still uses his as a refuge...if he really wants to zonk out, that's where he'll do it, door is always open. It depends on the dog, but besides being his den, a crate is invaluable for managing a youngster and keeping them from getting into trouble.

01-10-2014 11:36 AM

huntergreen

dogs like crates. i only secure the door if the dogs need to be kept out of the way.

01-10-2014 10:36 AM

Sp00ks

Ours earned her way out of the crate as well. We also left the crate door open at night for while. The crate we had her in was 38". When I saw her laying in it looking pretty uncomfortable, we decided to take it out and got her a large dog bed.

I'm sorry but I don't remember time frames and ages.

01-10-2014 10:12 AM

Sarah~

Eko earned his way out at about one year old, we also slowly gave him more freedom until we were sure he could be trusted. We still have it set up so he can lay down in it if he chooses to, he actually really likes his crate.

Xena is another story I'm not sure I will ever be able to trust her to be good when we aren't around. We try from time to time leaving the door open for her at night but it never lasts more than a couple of days before she slips up. She is also incontinent and one time we let her sleep in the bed and she wet herself. That put a quick end to that she is not allowed on the bed, period. I wash her bedding pretty much every day and we have a plastic mat under her crate, the crate also has a tray to protect the floor, I don't want to have to scrub carpets all the time either from her leaking during a nap.

01-10-2014 09:50 AM

shepherdmom

Quote:

Originally Posted by NorthwestIris

Hi all, I'm a first time German Shepherd owner. Our puppy is just 3 months old and we currently kennel her when we sleep and whenever we leave the home without her to keep her safe from chewing up the house My question is, do you continue to kennel your GSD in to adulthood? If no, when did you no longer feel the need to kennel them?

My dogs too earned their way out. We start leaving the door open at night while we are home, then start giving them more and more privileges until one day I can finally put it away again until the next puppy or until we go camping or other travel and then I bring it so they can sleep in and feel safe.

01-10-2014 09:41 AM

misslesleedavis1

I forgot to menton that my crate is a life saver for days when i need to wash the floor.

01-10-2014 09:22 AM

GrammaD

Free range is an earned privilege. Generally this happens around 6 months and I am happy to get the thing out of the way!

Mine are crated for travel and at trials and events - and I consider crate training to be an essential part of training a dog.

01-10-2014 08:54 AM

Okin

My girl graduated to being able to sleep out of the crate at night. She still goes in there when no one is home. We also leave it open so she can go in there when she wants a place to be alone. She seems to like it.

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